Post Katrina was not self healing. An exception to the rule. Strangely, many people from all over the country tried to get in and help, but were turned away. Some of them members of SI. You probably were not paying attention at the time, but I was.
My own brother, a trauma nurse, rode his motorcycle to New Orleans all the way from Tucson, Arizona, but was turned away by armed police. He was able to get in, anyway, by joining forces with a formal group donated by Exxon, and eventually joined up with NOPD. Stayed there for months, providing health care to first responders. Without any recompense, without any government authorization, living in a tent just south of the French Quarter. He did it because it was the right thing to do.
Our family supported him financially because he was doing a good thing, all by himself.
Unfortunately he died a year later from kidney cancer so you will only have to take my word for it, but it's true. Volunteers tried to help but were turned away by the government.
Boaters who wanted to get in to rescue people were turned away. Tractor trailer trucks bearing loads of food and water were turned away.
The police shot people trying to evacuate on the Danziger Bridge.
Why did the government of Louisiana turn away volunteers? That remains a mystery to me.
Something about Louisiana -- I cannot explain. |
